Flying machine



Dec. 29 1925- G. F. MYERS FLYING MACHINE Original Filed 1, 1916 I comparativel Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES I 1,567,670 PATENT orr cej.

GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLYING MACHINE.

Application filed December 1, 1916, Serial No. 134,547. Renewed May 4, 1922. Serial No. 558,427.

MYERS, a citizen of the United States, and

residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Flying Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicles and more particularly to flying vehicles which embody a gas field, although some of its features are also applicable to other types of flying machines.

One of the problems in connection with been the di culty of transporting or storing the same when not in use. This is overcome in the present invention by constructing the body of the machine in sections which may be readily dismembered and each of which constitutes a substantially complete unit containing part of theframe, and when used in connection with a gas field frequent infiations'and deflations of the sectional gas field will be thereby avoided.

My invention has the further objects to provide armament for the machine, and to improve themachine In various other respects', the novel features of construction,

arrangement and construction of arts being hereinafter more fully descrlbed and pointed out in the claims.

This application is a renewal of an application filed December 1, 1916, and serial- 1y numbered 134,547, and the contents thereof were disclosed in an application filed July 17, 1909, and serially numbered 508,208; it is also a continuation in part of a companion application filed November 20, 1916, and serially numbered 1 32,356.

In the accompanying-drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a body or car embodying one ,of the forms of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the body out into sections. Fig. 3, 1s a similar view of the body with its covering removed.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The machine is constructed and operated substantially and preferably as follows:

In its general organization, the body vof this machine consists of or includes or come prises--that is to say that besides other things the machine has-a frame which is divided transversely at different points of large flying machines hascentral rings.

its length, and forming together a plurality of body units which may be connected for using the machine or separated into short lengths for ease of transportation on board of cars, boats or otherwise, or for storage when not in use. Y

{is shown in the dr wings, the frame comprises a central sectlon 1 adapted to support the power and propelling mechanism of the machine and also the mechanism whereby the operator controls the machine; front and rear intermediate sections 2, 3, and front and rear end sections 4, 5.

The central frame section is so constructed that a space or chamber is formed within the central part of the-same for the reception of the operator and the power mechanism while its opposite ends are constructed to receive gas holder sections. The central frame section comprises a plurality of'centralannular members or rings 6 arranged axially in line and connected at their peripheries by a plurality of longitudinal girders or beams which are arranged in a circumferential row, transverse cross pieces 13con'- necting opposite sides ofthese rings and extending across the space within the same,

two end rings 10 separated a considerable distance from the central rings 6 but arranged axially in line therewith, and longitudinal beams or girders connecting the central parts of the end rings 10 with the central rings 6 and each comprising top and bottom chords 11, 12 and a post or column 13 connecting the top and bottom chords between the respective end ring 10 and the Each of the intermediate frame sections comprises two annular members or rings 14 arranged at opposite ends thereof, a longitudinal beam or girder connected centrally antic-diametrically with the companion rings and consisting of upper and lower chords 15, 16 and an upright post 17 connecting the chords between the companion rings.

Each of the end sections of the frame is so constructed that it has an inner substantially cylindrical part and an outer conical nose and comprises two rings 18, 19 arranged axially in line and at the outer and inner ends of the cylindrical portion, a plurality of rings 20 of gradually smaller diameter arranged axially in line with the cylindrical portion and beyond the outer ring v18"thereof and afiupright beam or girder llO connecting said rin s centrally or midwayof opposite sides t ereof and comprising upper and lower cords 21, 22 connected with the several rings of this section, and an upright post or column 23 which connects the chords between the rings 18, 19 of the cylindrical portion of this frame,

The several frame sections are adapted to be placed axially in line and the rings on the opposing ends of adjacent sections are adapted to be detachably cennected by bolts or otherwise, so that the frame can be converted into a single unitary structure which is rigid as a whole or the several sections may be detached for convenience in storlng or transporting the same when not in use.

For the purpose of rendering the frame work ofnthe flying machine very light and strong, the same is made essentially in the form of built up or lattice work and each of the rings, chords and posts is constructed in the form of a truss.

For convenience in transportation, the gasfield holder or bag of .the machine is also constructed in sectlons, the same consisting of two pairs of comparatively short central sections, the pairs being arranged in front and in rear of the power compartment of the central frame section and the members of each pair being arranged in the spaces on opposite sides of the respect ve ends of the frame of this section, two pairs of comparatively long intermediate sections the members of each pair being arranged in the spaces on opposite sides of an intermediate frame section, and two pairs of end sections, the members of each last mentioned pair being arranged in the 5 aces on opposite sides .co-extensive with the length of the balloon and frame sections enclosed thereby, so as to ermit the body of the flying machine to Be divided into complete units each of which comprises an assembled frame section, balloon section and cover section, thereby permitting the machine to be knocked down or dismembered without requiring deflation of the gas field, whereby restoration of-th'e flying machine for use after dismembering the same is facilitated.

Each of these cover sectionsis preferably wrapped circumferentially' around its companion gas bag section and frame section and its ends united by a longitudinal ]oint which is arranged on the underside of these I sections. Each cover section is provided at one end with a continuation or flap which is adapted to overlap the opposing end of an adjacent cover section and to be connected therewith by lacing or otherwise, so as to produce a comparatively. smooth outer surface on the body of the machine and offer a minimum head resistance. This lap of each cover section is preferably arranged at the rear end thereof and overlaps the front end of the next following cover section thereby deflecting the wind from one cover section to another and avoiding the presentation of shoulders to the wind which otherwise would be the case if the flaps were arranged on tize front ends of the cover sections and lap forwardly over the cover sections in front of the same.

In order to protect the underside of the body of themachine against undue wear when alighting on water or ground, this side of the body is protected by a. longitudinal wearing strip of canvas or other suitablematerial which may be secured by any suitable means lengthwise to the underside of the body throughout the length of the several sections.

For convenience in starting the machine, and also protecting the same when alight ing on the ground the same is provided on its underside with wheels 36 which are mounted on the front and rear sections of the frame, the connection between these wheels and the frame being effected by any suitable means.

If it is desired to start the machine from or alight on water, the bottom of the body ma be made water proof so that the same wil float on the water.

are arranged on the front part of the body, 38 a set of front-intermediate lanes arranged in rear ofthe front planes but in advance of the power compartment which is located centrally in the body, 40 a set of rear planes arranged on the' rear. part of the body and 39 a set of rear-intermediate planes which are. arranged in front of the rear planes but in rear of the power compartment. Each of these sets of planes consist of two tiers arranged on laterally opposite sides of the body each tiercontainmg a plurality of plane sections, three of such sections being shown in each tier al-. though a greater or lesser number may be employed. .The planes of both tiers of the same set which are horizontally in line and the corresponding sections of both tiers forming pairs are secured to horizontal shafts which extend transversely through bearings on the frame so that the same turn vertically in a plane lengthwise of the 37 represents a set of'front planes, which the body and are journalled in suitable Leonora to'turn together by connecting the same on opposite sides of their shafts by means of nected that they are compelled to move.

together and may be adjusted independently oi the front andrear planes.

lipper and lower lines, cords or wires are connected respectively with the upper and lower arms or rock levers secured to the lowermostshafts of the front-intermeical part oi the rear body section,

diate and rear-intermediate planes thereby compelling these two sets of planes to always move together while being adjusted.

The shafts which support the several sets of planes may be journaled in bearings arranged between opposite ends of a frame section, as in the case of the front and rear planes, or these shafts may be journaled in bearings which are arranged in the joints between adjacent frame sections, as is the case of the shafts and bearings of the frontintcrmediate and rear-intermediate planes. The advantage of arranging the plane shafts and their hearings in the joints between the sections of the frame is that it permits of more readily detaching the planes and their shafts from the frame when the flying machine is dismembered for storage or transportation. f p i t 63 represents the rudder which is pivoted vertically on the upper side oi? the rear conso as to be capable of turning horizontally. This rudder may means but by means of a hand lever arranged in the power compartment adjacent to the left hand side of the operators seat and connected above. and below its pivot by means of lines, cords or wires with opposits arms of a transverse lever secured to the rudder. 1

The forward movement of the dying machine is roduced by means of twopropellers 68 which are arranged on opposite sides of the central or ppwer section of the machine and each having its shaft journaled so as to turn on a horizontal axis lengthwise of the machine in bearings arranged at the outer end of a bracket projecting laterally lroin the central section of the frame.

inasmuch as the operators compartment is so "l ar in rear ol the front end of the machine that it would be impracticable to observe the course of the machine by loolsmg through the front end. of the same,

means as windows and one or more periscopes or mirrors are provided whereby the operator can look sidcwise as well as upbe operated by any suitable wardly and downwardly through the body of the machine, and also make observation ahead of the course of the machine.

The operation of this machine is as follows: v l

The engine having been started so as to rotate the propellers oppositely in the proper direction, the machine will be pushed forward along the ground on its wheels or along the surface of the water, as the case may be, until such a speed has been reached that the reaction of the air under the planes will lift the machine into the air. If it is desired to go to a higher altitude, the trons planes are operated by a right hand lever so that the inclination of these planes is increased and the machine ascends further. If it is desired to go into a horizontal position, the rear planes may be tilted at an angle to the horizontal position by means of a left hand lever. l/Vhile thus adjusting the front and rear planes, the front-intermediate and rear-intermediate planes may be kept at a constant angle, if desired.

It the operator desires to look ahead, he adjusts one or the other of the periscopes into the angular position which enables him by looking laterally to see reflected in the glass or perisco e the lay of the land on either or both sides ofthe machine and in front thereof, this being of vital importance during the starting and stopping states of the machine. When up in the air the periscopes are not required and during this time the operator may observe his position by looking either upwardly or downwardly through the windows or observation windows or openings in the body of the car which contain either glass panes or a covering of celluloid as shown at 85 in Fig. 2.

As my invention is in some of its aspects generic ll do not limit myself to the particular construction shown and described,

but also contemplate the employment of such equivalents for the several elements as fair ly fall within the scope of the claims.

Therefore it will be understood that I may make various changes in the form. proportion, size and detail of the several struc tures shown, the number and position of certain elements used, the kind of lifting medium employed in the gas holder, as well as the character of the motive power employed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a flying machine, of a gas holder, and a car mounted in the center of the said gas holder, the said car having two complete and separate sections of the said gas holder arranged fore and aft of the said car and having the same cross section as the said gas holder.

2. In combination with a flying machine, of a gas holder, :1 car mounted adjacent to ltl the center of the said gas holder the axis of the said car being coincident with the axis of the said gas holder, the said car having two separate sections of the said gas holder arranged for and, aft of the said car which has the same cross section as the'said gas holder, and a plurality cl planes normally having their anterior portions highertha-ntheir posterior portions mounted one lore and one aft of the said car. i

3. in combination with a flying machine, of a gas holder, a car mounted adjacent to the center of the said gas holder the axis of the said car being coincident with the axis of the said gas holder" the said car having two separate sections of the said gas holder arranged fore and aft of the said car which has substantially the same cross section as the said gas holder, and a plu--. rality of planes havin their anterior portions higher than their posterior portions one mounted fore and one mounted aft of the said car and in the immediate vicinity thereof, andone set of planes mounted ad-' jacent to the outer ends of each of the said fore and aft sections, 7

4. The combination with a flying machine, of a gas holder consisting of sections detachably held together, a car between sections of the gas holder, and a plurality of planes on the exterior oi the gasholder with connections whereby they may be controlled from within the car.

5. The combination with a flying machine, of a gas holder consisting of sections and a cover for detachably holding the sections together, an operators compartm nt between the sections of the gas holder, and a plurality of planes on the exterior of the gas holder, and manipulative devices and connections for controlling the plane.

6. The combination with a flying niacuine, consisting of sections and a cover for de tachahly holding: the sections together, of an operator s compartment between sections of the holder, a plurality of planes, some fore and sonic aft of the operators compartment, manipulating devices in the compartment, and connections wher h may he-conti olledhy means or lative devices.

machine sections, planes mounted on said shafts, and

means which permit of adjusting each of said planes independently of the other.

8. A flying machine comprising a frame con'i'posed of a plurality of sections arranged lengthwise one behind the other, a support arranged between the opposing ends of adjacent frame sections, and a plane mounted on the said support.

9. A flying machine comprising a frame coinpozed of a plurality of sections arranged lengthwise one behind the other, a shaft journaled in hearings arranged in the joint between adjacent frame sections, and a plane mounted on said shaft;

10. A flying machine comprising-a frame built up in longitudinal sections detachahly connected together, a plurality of aero surfaces'detachably connected to the said frame, means for detachably securing the said sections one to the other, and means for detachahly securing the said aero surfaces to the said frame.

11. A tlying machine comprising a frame built up in longitudinal sections detachahly connected together, a supporting aero surface detachahly mounted adjacent to the forward portion of the said frame, a second aero surface also detachahly mounted adjacent the rear ortion of the said frame, and pivoted to the same, means tordetachably securing the said sections one to the other, and means for detachaloly' securing the said aero surfaces to the said frame.

12, A flying machine comprising a frame having different cross sectional areas, and.

one of the same losing tapered, built up in longitudinal sections detachahly connected together, a plurality of aero surfaces detachahly connected to the said frame, means for detachahly securing the said sections one to the other, and means for detachahly securing the said acro surfaces to the said frame 7 13. A flying machine comprising a gas hold-er, a framework and a covering therefor :i orining a housing mounted in axial alignment with the said holdenland a connecting framework con'iprising a plur lity a ml or P .o mounted inanial al 'nin nt, 

